Questions that must be answered

May 07, 2019 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

I have a praxis that started since I was sixteen. Since that time, many moons ago, I have not succumbed to intimidation despite living in situations where my life was endangered. The many occasions where I could have lost my life are well documented in the media so details should not detain us here.
I do not think there is any decent human in any country in the world that would be so shameful or barefaced or idiotic to

Freddie Kissoon

deny the role of the media and letter-writers in the newspapers in commenting on politicians that are active politically and whose declaration is to be part of government and make policies for the country.
There are the laws of libel. There are the laws of decent journalistic composing. Once those rules are observed by both the writer and editor, then, politicians must accept as a matter of reality that they will be in the eyes of the country. It is virtually impossible for a political party to come into being, state its intention to have power and be afraid of media scrutiny.
Because it is asking the citizenry to vote for it, then it has an obligation to answer the questions that will allow citizens to choose it over its competitor.
Last week, the new formation, A New and United Guyana (ANUG) met and shaped its leadership structure. It voted in its General-Secretary, who spent forty years in the PPP’s leadership before he left in 2012. The General Secretary’s extensive influence in the PPP for over forty years puts him in the spotlight.
Voters would definitely like to know about his praxis. Here are some questions that the General Secretary has an obligation to answer. He could choose not to do so because of who is asking. But in some other shape or form these curiosities must be addressed by The General Secretary
Many times during the PPP congresses, he performed the role as chairman of the credential committee whose task is to ensure that the delegate selection process is properly done. In many of those congresses, he himself competed for leadership positions and won handsomely. Did he consider that such a situation was a conflict of interest?
Second, well known personality, Malcolm Harripaul wrote a letter in the newspapers accusing the General Secretary of being the person the enduring confidante of Mrs. Jagan. Harripaul accused Mrs. Jagan of wanting to get him out and laid out a trumped- up charge against him. The General Secretary headed the disciplinary committee against Harripaul. Could the General Secretary comment on this?
Thirdly, as chairman of Guyana Airways when the PPP won the 1992 general elections, what went wrong to cause the airline to collapse? Is there blame to be laid anywhere?
Fourthly, after the PPP came to power in 1992, he would have been in a circle of four persons, excluding Dr. Jagan, his wife and Reepu Daman Persaud that would have naturally been a Cabinet minister. Was he asked to serve? If yes why did he not? If no, why with his huge standing, he wasn’t asked?
Fifthly, why with his party longevity he was not chosen to be the presidential candidate in 1997 after Mrs. Jagan initially declined? Sixthly, he did a large panegyric in the Chronicle in 2011of President Jagdeo even insinuating that he may have been a more successful and wiser leader than Cheddi Jagan? Was that a mistake? Did he regret it? That article was taken down by the Chronicle in 2012.
Sixthly, could the General Secretary explain the meaning of the following statement he gave to the Guyanese people? In other words, why were the PPP leaders so hostile to him since in the nineties?
I quote him; “I could take no more of the years of hostility, abuse and torment that had been heaped upon me, starting in 1997, subsiding for a few years, then recommencing with studied vindictiveness and renewed venom in 2005 at the Essequibo Congress up to shortly before President (Donald) Ramotar was sworn in.
“A Cabinet had been appointed, but I was to learn that my exclusion was demanded by some, ostensibly because I did not campaign, but in reality because of the lingering hostility and vindictiveness.”
Finally, looking back at the time when Justice Patterson issued two orders that cancelled UG’s decision to remove Dr. Mark Kirton as acting Vice Chancellor, did he regret advising UG, when he was the institution’s legal advisor, not to adhere to the two orders? Surely, he must have had a valid legal argument.
ANUG’s current co-leader, Henry Jeffrey, was the Minister of Education at the time. Life is strange. Both men together founded a political party in 2019. I await the General Secretary’s elongations.

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